Circular loom



Jan. 19, 1937. J, JABQULEY ET AL `2,968,026

CIRCULAR LOOM Filed Aug. 3, 1955 Patented Jan. 19, 1937 UNETED STATES PATENT CIRCULAR LOOM Delaware Application August 8,

1935, Serial'No. 34,576

In Great Britain August 20, 1934 1o anims.

This invention relates to circular looms, i. e. looms in which thewarps are arranged in a circle, and in which the weft is laid by means of a relative circular motion between the shuttle or shuttles and the warps. The invention is primarily concerned with the maintenance of even spacing of the warp threads, and proper presentation of the threads to the weft-inserting means.

Since in circular looms the complication involved renders it inconvenient to employ a reed or its equivalent to beat-up the weft in a manner similar to that of the oscillating reed of an ordinary loom, the warp threads are not subjected to the evening effect at the fell of the fabric obtained by a beat-up reed. In consequence, should there be any tendency to displacement of the warps at the fell of the fabric, there is nothing to overcome such tendency, and uneven fabric results.

fabric so as to displace the threads, and by making them vibrate on their recovery from such displacement, causing the threads to assume an even spacing in the fabric. The specific embodiment of the thread-plucking apparatus comprises a linger disposed so as to penetrate the normal line of the warp threads, and because of relative motion between the :linger and the warp threads during weaving, to engage and pluck the warp threads in turn forwardly with respect to the direction of weaving, the resulting vibration of the threads causing them to assume an improved spacing in the fabric woven in the loom.

It has been found in some cases, however, that the plucking of the warp threads forwardly with respect to the direction of weaving does not wholly overcome the tendency of the warp threads to adopt uneven spacing.

According to the present invention, means are provided which pluck the warp threads backwardly with respect to the direction of weaving. The plucking means may conveniently be used in association with the warp thread spacing iinger of U. S. Patent No. 1,985,782, the combination of the forward plucking of the threads with the backward plucking giving the threads the best chance of assuming the desired even spacing round the whole periphery of the loom,

The plucking means according to the invention conveniently comprises a rotatable wheel mounted with its periphery in contact with the warp threads at or near the fell of the fabric and driven at such a rate that its periphery moves past the warp threads in the direction opposite to the drection of weaving and plucks the warp threads in turn backwardly with respect to the direction of weaving. On release of the warp threads after plucking, their tension causes them to vibrate, and in recovering from such vibration, to take up in the fabric a mean position of minimum tension in which they are evenly spaced from one another.

The periphery of the wheel is of such material or is formed in such a manner that the relatively moving warp threads are temporarily gripped by the wheel; e. g. the periphery may be notched,

the Wheel being so adjusted, that the notched periphery penetrates slightly the normal line of .the warp threads. The threads are thus engaged by the notches and plucked in the direction of motion of the periphery of the wheel, i. e. opposite to the direction of weaving. One or more of the notched wheels may be provided round the warp circle; for example, one such wheel may be provided in association with each of the spacing lingers of U. S. Patent No. 1,985,782.

In the case of a loom having shuttles which rotate round the axis of the loom, the rotatable thread-spacing wheels are mounted on brackets rotating at the same speed as the shuttles, the wheels also preferably being adjustably mounted both as regards angular disposition and height relatively to the warps to enable the depth of penetration of the warps and the position of the wheels with respect to the fell of the fabric to be adjusted.

Just as one or more wheels are given a backward rotation with respect to the warps to pluck the warps in a backward direction, one or more wheels may be used having a forward rotation so as to pluck the warps in the opposite direction. Such forwardly moving wheel or wheels may be used in replacement of or in addition to the nger of U. S. Patent No. 1,985,782.

One form of apparatus according to the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is al diagrammatic part crosssectional elevation of part of a circular loom employing rotating shuttles; Figure 2 is a part cross-sectional elevation on larger Scale of a detail of Figure l showing the warp thread spacing mechanism according to the invention in connection therewith; Figure 3 is a plan View of a detail of Figure 2; Figure l is a diagrammatic plan view showing the action of the thread spacing mechanism; While Figure 5 is a detail view showing the action of the thread spacing mechan1sm.

Referring to Figure 1, warp threads 6 unwinding from beams or like supply packages (not shown) proceed downwardly in cylindrical arrangement to the fabric 'I along the fell 8 of which weft is laid by a number of rotating shuttles 9 (one shown). The fabric 'I is supported below the fell 8 by the edge of a ring I outstanding from the central shaft II of the loom.

The warp threads 6 are spaced at the top of the loom by a circular comb I2 and are shedded to receive the shuttles 9 by shedding Wheels I3 (one shown) which co-operate with a circular reed-like member I4 in the manner explained in detail in U. S. Patent No. 2,008,913. Each shuttle 9 is propelled around the loom by vane wheels I5 (shown in dotted lines) secured to a driving shaft I6, the shaft I 6 being supported by brackets f I'I upstanding from a ring I8 which is driven round the loom at the rate at which it is desired to propel the shuttles.

The ring I8 is rotatably supported by grooved pulleys I9 which engage an annular lip 28 formed round the ring, and is driven from an electric motor 2|, the drive being transmitted by belt gearing 22, a vertical shaft 23 and a gear 24, which engages teeth 25 (Figure 2) formed round the ring.

Mounted concentrically with the rotatable ring I8 is a stationary ring 26 to which is fixed a toothed driving ring 21. The teeth of the ring 2'! engage a pinion 28 (shown in dotted lines) secured to the lower end of a vertical spindle 29, housed within a bearing 30, upstanding from the ring I8. The spindle 29 is connected by bevel gearing 3| to the vane Wheel shaft I6. manner the relative rotation between the rings I8, 26 rotates the vane wheels I5. It is to be understood that there is a spindle 29 and associated mechanism. in connection with each shuttle round the loom, this mechanism being shown in dotted lines in the drawing since it is removed from the plane of the ligure.

The warp threads 6 are spaced in the vicinity of each shuttle 9 by the following mechanism:- An inwardly projecting bracket 32 is adjustably secured by bolts 33 to the ring I8 and is formed at its innermost end with a housing 34 for an elongated bush 35, the bush being adapted to receive a vertical spindle 36 having adjustably secured thereto a friction wheel 3'I which may be made of or covered by rubber or like material, and a belt pulley 38.

An arm 39 extending downwardly from the end of the bracket 32 is formed at each end `with housings 46, 4I The housing 4Ilscrews on to the bush 35 while the housing 4I acts as a bearing for a freely rotatable sleeve 43 which is formed at its lower end into a belt pulley 44 and is secured to a vertical spindle 45. A warp thread spacing wheel 46 having a notched periphery 41 is secured to the upper end of the spindle 45 at such a height as to enable the notched periphery 41 to engage the warp threads 6 immediately above the fell 8 of the fabric.

Clearances 48 formed in the bracket 32 allow of adjustment of the bracket on the rotatable ring i8 in order to draw the friction wheel 3l into close driving contact with the inner face of the i'lXed ring 26. In this manner the rotation of the ring I8 rotates the friction wheel 3'! and consequently the spindle 36 and belt pulley 38, the rotation being transmitted to the spindle 45 and In this the spacing wheel 46 by a belt 49 connecting the pulleys 38, 44.

The arm 39 is rotatable about the bush 35 in order to enable the angular position of the arm to be set in accordance with the desired depth of penetration of the warp threads 6 by the notched periphery 4l of the spacing wheel 46, the arm 39 ultimately being Xed in position on the end of the bracket 32 by screwing down the bush 35 so as to bring the ends of the housings 34, 46 firmly into contact with each other. A collar 58 secured to the upper end of the spindle 36 holds the spindle in position within the bush 35 and revolves smoothly on the upper end of the bush.

The height of the spacing wheel 46 and pulley 44 relatively to the fell 8 of the fabric can be adjusted by varying the position of nuts 5I which engage threaded portions of the spindle 45. The pulley 38 can be similarly adjusted by nuts 52.

In operation the spacing wheel 46 rotates backwardly with respect to the warp threads 6, the notched periphery 4l of the wheel plucking the warp threads backwardly and correcting any uneven spacing thereof (see Figure 5). In Figure 4 the spacing wheel 46 is shown immediately behind the shuttle 9 and operating in conjunction with a spacing iinger 53 of the type described in U. S. Patent No. 1,985,782. The spacing nger 53 is a-djustably secured to the rotatable ring I8 and projects outwardly therefrom to a point beyond the normal line of warp threads 6 near the fell of the fabric 'I and plucks the warp threads forwardly with respect to the direction of weaving at the forward portion of the shuttle, the wheel 46 plucking the warp threads in the direction opposite to that of the finger and thereby correcting any tendency for the continued forward plucking of the threads by the linger to prevent the warp threads assuming the desired even spacing.

The notches of the notched periphery 4l have smooth edges in order to prevent chai-lng or otherwise damaging or cutting the warp threads 6. The spacing of the notches is not necessarily as wide as the spacing of the warp threads, though with relatively widely spaced warp threads the notches may be spaced similarly to` the threads. The rate oi rotation of the spacing wheel 46 may be varied by replacing the pulleys 38, 44 by pulleys of smaller or larger diameter and, ii desired, the spacing wheel may be replaced for one of larger or smaller diameter. The spacing wheel 46 is easily interchangeable and may be replaced by a wheel having notches of diiferent pitch to accommodate warp threads of different types or having different spacing.

In Figure 3 the driving belt 49 is shown crossed so as to rotate the spacing wheel 46 in a clockwise direction, thus causing the wheel to pluck the warp threads in a backward direction with respect to the direction of weaving'. The driving belt 49 may, however, be open so as to rotate the spacing wheel in an anti-clock-wise direction. Such arrangement may be adopted in replacement of or in addition to the spacing nger described in U. S. Patent No. 1,985,782. While the drive to the spacing wheel 46 is illustrated as being transmitted by a belt gearing, any other form of gearing such as a toothed-wheel, chain or shaft gearing may be used.

Any number of spacing wheels 46 may be used in connection with the loom, and while conveniently being disposed so as to pluck the warp threads in the vicinity of the shuttles, may be removed from the vicinity of the shuttles. Where a plurality of spacing wheels are used they may be rotated in the same or in opposite directions.

In a loom in which the Warp threads rotate about the axis of the loom and the shuttles are held stationary during Weaving, the bracket 32 in connection with each spacing Wheel 4B is secured to a stationary part of the loom and may conveniently be rotated directly or indirectly from a ring rotating round the loom.

What We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a loom having warp threads larrange-d in a circle, a rotatable Wheel, means for mounting said Wheel with its periphery in contact With the warp threads near the fell of the fabric, and means for rotating said Wheel so that its periphery moves past the warp threads and `pluclis the threads circumferentially in turn, the resultant vibration causing the Warp threads to assume an even spacing in the fabric Woven in the m.

2. In a loom having Warp threads arranged in a circle, a rotatable Wheel having a periphery adapted to grip the warp threads, means for mounting said Wheel With its periphery in contact with the warp threads near the fell of the fabric, and means for rotating said wheel so that its periphery moves past the Warp threads and plucks the threads circumferentially in turn, the resultant vibration causing the Warp threads to assume an even spacing in the fabric Woven in the loom.

3. In a loom having Warp threads arranged in a circle, a rotatable Wheel having a notched periphery, means for mounting the wheel with its notched periphery penetrating the normal line of the Warp threads near the fell of the fabric, and means for rotating said Wheel so that its periphery moves past the Warp threads and plucks the threads circumferentially in turn, the resultant vibration causing the Warp threads to assume an even spacing in the fabric Woven in the loom.

4. In a loom having Warp threads arranged in a circle, a rotatable Wheel, means for mounting said wheel with its periphery in contact with the Warp threads near the fell of the fabric, and means for rotating said Wheel so that its periphery moves past the Warp threads in the direction.

opposite to the direction of Weaving and plucks the threads in that direction, the resultant vibration causing the Warp threads to assume an even spacing in the fabric Woven in the loom.

5. In a loom having Warp threads arranged in a circle, a rotatable Wheel having a periphery adapted to grip the Warp threads, means for mounting sai-d Wheel with its periphery in contact with the Warp threads near the fell of the fabric, and means for rotating said Wheel so that its periphery moves past the warp threads in the direction opposite to the direction of weaving and plucks the threads in that direction, the resultant vibration causing the Warp threads to assume an even spacing in the fabric Woven in the loom.

6. In a loom having warp threads arranged in a circle, a rotatable Wheel having a notched periphery, means for mounting the Wheel with its notched periphery penetrating the normal line of the Warp threads near the fell of the fabric, and means for rotating said wheel so that its periphery moves past the Warp threads in the direction opposite to the direction of Weaving and plucks the threads in that direction, the resultant vibration causing the Warp' threads to assume an even spacing inthe fabric Woven in the loom.

7. In a loom having Warp threads arranged in a circle, a member disposed so as to contact with the Warp-s near the fell of the fabric, means for effecting relative circular motion between said member and the Warp threads in the direction opposite to the direction of Weaving, a further member similarly disposed so as to contact with the Warp threads, and means for effecting relative circular motion between said further member and the Warp threads in the opposite direction.

8. In a loom having Warp threads arranged in a circle, a rotatable wheel having a notched periphery, means for mounting the Wheel With its notched periphery penetrating thel normal line of the Warp threads near the fell of the fabric, means for rotating said Wheel so that its periphery moves past the Warp threads in the direction opposite to the direction of Weaving and plucks the threads in that direction, a finger mounted so as to engage the Warp threads near the fell of the fabric, and means to cause the linger to move relatively to the Warps in the direction of weaving and so pluck the threads in that direction, the vibration resulting from the operation of the Wheel and the iinger causing the Warp threads to assume an even spacing in the fabric woven in the loom.

9. In a loom having Warp threads arranged in a circle, a rotatable Wheel having a notched periphery, means for mounting the Wheel with its notched periphery penetrating the normal line of the Warp threads near the fell of the fabric, means for adjusting the extent of the penetration of the normal line of the warp threads by the notched periphery of said Wheel, and means for rotating said Wheel so that its periphery moves past the Warp threads and plucks the threads circumferentially in turn, the resultant vibration causing the Warp threads to assume an even spacing in the fabric Woven in the loom.

10. In a loom having Warp threads arranged in a circle, a rotatable Wheel having a periphery adapte-d to grip the Warp threads, means for mounting said Wheel with its periphery in contact with the Warp threads near the fell of the fabric, means for adjusting the height of said wheel relatively to the fell of the fabric, and means for rotating said Wheel so that its periphery moves past the warp threads and plucks the threads circumferentially in turn, the resultant vibration causing the Warpy threads to assume an even spacing in the fabric Woven in the loom.

J OANNY J ABOULEY. ROBERT YEADON. 

